Following Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell's first season leading the team, he promoted Tanner Engstrand to tight ends coach and passing game coordinator in 2022.
Engstrand originally joined the Lions coaching during the 2020 season after most recently working as the offensive coordinator for the XFL's DC Defenders. Prior to his stint in the XFL, Engstrand was on staff at the University of Michigan as an offensive analyst.
Prior to joining the Wolverines, Engstrand served in a variety of roles at the University of San Diego for more than 10 seasons, including five seasons as the assistant head coach, seven seasons as the offensive coordinator and nine seasons as the quarterbacks coach.
He began his coaching career in 2005 as a graduate assistant at San Diego, after playing quarterback for San Diego State between 2003-04 and at Grossmont College from 2000-2002 where he earned first team all-conference and academic All-American honors during the 2002 season. Engstrand earned his bachelor's degree in economics from SDSU in 2005 and also earned his master's degree in business administration from the University of San Diego in 2007.
He is married to his wife, Lauren, and they have one daughter, Paislyn and two sons, Wyatt, and Colton.